Magic Sam: Rockin' Wild In Chicago (2002)

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Chicago blues guitar legend Magic Sam left us too soon. Sam Maghett died at age 32 of a heart attack, just on the brink of stardom. He left behind only a few completely realized recordings, most notably the classics West Side Soul and Black Magic. There are some excellent compilations available on Evidence Records, Charly Records, and Blue Horizon Records, but they're just that  compilations.

Sam also left behind some early recordings for Cobra Records and for Chief Records as well as a smattering of live performances that occasionally surface  some of which have been legitimately released: Magic Touch (Black Top 1992), Live at Ann Arbor & In Chicago (Delmark 1982), and Live at the Alex Club (Delmark 1990). Delmark's Rockin' Wild In Chicago, recorded in the '60s and released last year, is another such recording.

Had he lived, Magic Sam would today be held in the same high esteem as Buddy Guy and other blues guitar gods. Rockin' makes this clear. The Delta-raised guitarist moved to Chicago in 1950 and became a vigorous proponent of its West side movement, easily recognizable by his fingerpicking style. Although the sound quality is suspect  at times it is bad at best, Rockin' stands as a testament to the genius that was Magic Sam. The performance is electrifying (even if the recording isn't). Sam rocks on "Further on Up the Road," "It's All Your Fault Baby," "I Found Me a New Love" "Got My Mojo Working,"Tore Down" and the title track, "Rockin' Wild."

Although an excellent document to his talent, Rockin' Wild is recommended more as a companion piece. Check out the aforementioned classics and then turn to Rockin' Wild. It is a fantastic performance, but unfortunately the source recording is over 30 years old and modern technology can only do so much to make it better. Still Magic Sam was the goods, as Rockin' Wild in Chicago amply demonstrates.